SASSA beneficiaries report unauthorised grant deductions

During an oversight visit to the Delft office in Cape Town, Social Development Minister Dina Pule and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) CEO Themba Matlou met with grant beneficiaries who raised several grievances.

Beneficiaries reported experiencing long queues and inadequate facilities, such as insufficient toilets. A primary concern raised by pensioners involved unauthorised deductions from their social grants for funeral cover policies.

One pensioner, Christine Southgate, reported that money has been deducted from her pension since March for an Emerald Life policy that she claims she never signed up for or consented to. She stated that these deductions have made it difficult to afford essential utilities like water and electricity. Other beneficiaries also raised concerns regarding deductions related to Clientele Life policies.